Career · Lesson Plan
Performing Well at Interviews
A practical guide to interviewing well. Students learn to research the company, dress and present themselves for a strong first impression, and handle the five main question types — verification, personal, opinion, creativity/situational, and relational. The lesson also covers questions to ask the interviewer and how to keep a rejection in perspective, then has students rehearse ten common interview questions.
For Teachers
Lesson at a glance
- Topic
- Career
- Grade Level
- Grades 9–12
- Resource Type
- Lesson + Worksheet
- Estimated Time
- 30–45 minutes
- Format
- Lesson + activity
- Materials
- Printable lesson, activity sheet, whiteboard
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- Research a company before an interview
- Make a strong first impression through appearance and demeanor
- Recognize and handle the five main interview question types
- Discuss strengths and weaknesses without boasting or self-sabotage
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer
Materials
What you’ll need
- Printed copies of the lesson and exercise sheet (one per student)
- Pencils
- Optional: partners for mock interviews
Key Terms
Vocabulary
- First impression
- The opinion an interviewer forms in the first moments of meeting you.
- Verification question
- A question checking your credentials and experience.
- Situational question
- A ‘what would you do if…’ question testing how you think on your feet.
- Relational question
- A question about how you work with others.
- Demeanor
- How you carry and present yourself.
- Follow-up
- Contacting the employer after the interview.
For Teachers
Lesson plan
Estimated time: one 30–45 minute class period (plus optional mock interviews).
Lesson sequence
- Introduction (5 min). Discuss interview nerves and why being selected to interview is already a good sign.
- Preparation & first impressions (10 min). Research the company; dress and present yourself; firm handshake, eye contact, brief sincere small talk.
- The five question types (12 min). Walk through verification, personal, opinion, creativity/situational, and relational questions, with how to handle each.
- Exercise (12 min). Students draft answers to the ten common interview questions for a real job they’d want; optional mock interviews in pairs.
Assessment
Assess the completed exercise sheet and, if used, mock-interview participation.
Discussion
Discussion questions
- Why is researching the company before an interview worth the effort?
- What forms a first impression before you even answer a question?
- How should you answer a question about your weaknesses?
- Why are situational questions less about the ‘right’ answer than how you think?
- What is a good question to ask the interviewer, and what should you avoid asking?
Printable Lesson & Activity
Performing Well at Interviews — Lesson & Worksheet
A printable lesson on interview preparation and the five question types, plus a worksheet of ten common interview questions to rehearse.
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